Baseball

DONKO NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN BY COLLEGIATE BASEBALL

Dec 19, 2016

RICHMOND, Va. – With baseball season around the corner in the coming weeks, senior reliever Sam Donko was named to the Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American squad. The publication announced the three preseason teams on Monday afternoon.

The award is the latest one for Donko, who earned multiple awards after the conclusion of last season. He earned both ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region First Team honors, as well as Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team recognition as well. However, most impressive, was his award to the NCBWA All-America Team as one of only five relievers on the list.

Last season in his first season in Black and Gold after transferring from Iowa Western Junior College, Donko became a force in the back of the bullpen for the Rams. He began to rack up save after save, as he led the NCAA Division I ranks in that category, ending up on 20 for the season. That broke a VCU record that was previously set by Daniel Concepcion in 2015, as he compiled a 2.63 ERA in 54.2 innings over 30 appearances. He would finish third amongst all VCU pitchers with 53 strikeouts on the season.

Donko was the only A-10 player named to First Team honors, while Rhode Island's Tyler Wilson and last season's A-10 Player of the Year, Saint Joseph's Deon Stafford, Jr. were named to the second and third teams respectively.

For the full list of Collegiate Baseball's Preseason All-American teams, click here.